Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Thunderbolts*

  • The ‘Thunderbolts*’Post-Credit Scene Just Became Even More Important to the Future of the MCU

    The ‘Thunderbolts*’Post-Credit Scene Just Became Even More Important to the Future of the MCU

    As is Marvel Studios’ tradition, Thunderbolts* included some additional scenes during the credits. Though the first scene featuring David Harbour‘s Red Guardian was played for laughs, the second scene jumped 14 months into the MCU’s future, providing a look at the New Avengers regrouping at The Watchtower. Unlike several of the studio’s post-credit scenes, this one felt important, providing information about Captain America and his team of Avengers while also teasing the arrival of the Fantastic Four on Earth-616. Yelena’s New Avengers were decked out in new uniforms, including Bucky sporting a new star logo very reminiscent of the one his character recently sported in the pages of Marvel Comics as The Revolution, and were just learning about a “space crisis,” which is almost certainly an Incursion.

    TL:DR, the 2-minute and 54-second scene is doing a lot of table setting for Avengers: Doomsday and it turns out that’s because it was filmed by the directors of the upcoming Marvel project.

    In an interview with Comic Book, Thunderbolts* director Jake Schreier revealed that the post-credit scene was filmed on the set of Avengers: Doomsday while strongly hinting that Joe and Anthony Russo were behind the camera for it.

    So a couple things about that. I didn’t film that scene. I was there when it was filmed and I can say that it comes from the set of a production that might be starting production right around now. So that might be fun for people to stay and watch.

    -Jake Schreier

    The knowledge that the Russos filmed the scene adds a little extra weight to the information contained within. Too frequently, the studio’s stingers are poorly thought out and following up on them becomes the problem of “the next guy.” Since the Russos directed this and are “the next guys,” this scene can more or less be thought of as part of Avengers: Doomsday, which we can safely assume begins a year and two months after the events of Thunderbolts*, set in 2027. With that, we now know that the next Avengers film will be set in 2028, keeping the MCU timeline ahead of the real world by a couple of years.

    Thunderbolts* is now in theaters and Avengers: Doomsday is now in production ahead of its May 1, 2026 release.

  • Here’s Why ‘Thunderbolts’ Became ‘Thunderbolts*’

    Here’s Why ‘Thunderbolts’ Became ‘Thunderbolts*’

    During Marvel Studios’ CinemaCon presentation in April 2024, a minor change was confirmed to the title of one of the studio’s 2025 films, sparking interest among MCU fans. Without addressing its meaning, Marvel’s Head Honcho, Kevin Feige, revealed that the official title of Thunderbolts now included an asterisk. And the wild speculation about Thunderbolts* began.

    Yes, you’ll notice the asterisk on Thunderbolts. That is the official title of Thunderbolts and we won’t talk more about that until after the movie comes out.

    -Kevin Feige

    As is always the case, speculation ran from absurd to astute, with many deducing a chance in the team’s name as the reason behind the mysterious addition of the symbol.

    Now that the film has finally made its way into theaters, we can finally talk about why the asterisk was added to the title and it is exactly what we thought it was: a name change for the titular team of heroes.

    After discovering that her Project Sentry was not a complete failure and that Lewis Pullman‘s Bob survived the process, Julia Louis-Dreyfus‘ Valentina Allegra de Fontaine plans to reveal Earth’s Mightiest Hero, The Sentry, to the public in a bid to make herself untouchable amidst her impeachment hearing. As the Thunderbolts arrive at the old Avengers Tower, now owned by Val and known as The Watchtower, in hopes of stopping her and helping Bob, Val reveals an all-new, all-different Bob, one who she’s not-so-subtly manipulated and attempts to use to kill the Thunderbolts, riding herself of the people who made up her CIA wetwork network…only Bob realizes he doesn’t have to play by the rules.

    The asterisk tells us there’s so much more to the story.

    -David Harbour

    After saving Bob and all of New York City from The Void, the dark and powerful shadow of The Sentry that took control of Bob, the team turns its attention to Val who leads them directly to the press she had assembled for Sentry and introduces them as The New Avengers, revealing the meaning of the film’s cryptic asterisk.

    With the Multiverse Saga headed toward its conclusion and Sam Wilson assembling his own Avengers, it’s not quite clear what the future holds for Yelena, Bucky, John Walker, Ava and Alexi; however, as promised during the credits of Thunderbolts*, The New Avengers will return with Avengers: Doomsday next up on their docket.

  • ‘Thunderbolts*’ Adds ‘True Blood’ Star to Its Ensemble Cast

    ‘Thunderbolts*’ Adds ‘True Blood’ Star to Its Ensemble Cast

    It’s still too early to tell, but Thunderbolts* may well be the poster child for Bob Iger‘s successful return to Disney when it’s all said and done. Though it hadn’t quite fallen from grace, Marvel Studios was on thin ice following a string of projects like The Marvels that either weren’t doing big business at the box office or projects that were simply subpar efforts like Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania and Secret Invasion.

    It seemed that in the studio’s rush to flood the market with Marvel content, quality was taking a back seat and that was something Iger wasn’t willing to allow to continue. Among the projects targeted by Iger was Thunderbolts* which underwent a series of script rewrites that reportedly reworked the film into something quite worthwhile despite its inauspicious start as a sequel to Black Widow. Of course, the success of any film is partially dependent on the work of its cast and Thunderbolts* has a collection of stars at its center with Florence Pugh, Wyatt Russell, Sebastian Stan and David Harbour leading the way. And now comes word that an actor from one of HBO’s most beloved series also has a role in the film.

    According to an official project profile for Thunderbolts*, True Blood star Chris Bauer landed a role in the 2025 film.

    Bauer, who played Bon Temps Sheriff Andy Bellefleur for 81 episodes over True Blood‘s seven seasons, has been a staple of serial television for 25 years with major roles in The Wire, Third Watch, The Deuce, and recently as Wild Bill Hancock in Starz’s Heels, created by Marvel Studios’ writer Michael Waldron. It’s unknown what the nature of Bauer’s role in Thunderbolts* is and he joins Jack Ryan star Wendell Pierce as a surprise addition to the cast.

    Thunderbolts* will be in theaters on May 2, 2025.

  • SDCC ’24: Marvel Studios Sets 3 Films for Theatrical Release in 2025

    SDCC ’24: Marvel Studios Sets 3 Films for Theatrical Release in 2025

    Though we’ll never see it here, somewhere on a parallel Earth, Marvel Studios’ fans just saw Thunderbolts at the theater are preparing to be treated to some version of Avengers: The Kang Dynasty next May. Scrapped in favor of the return of Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday, Avengers: The Kang Dynasty is one of several projects revealed at comic-cons past as part of a future MCU slate that didn’t quite work out. During Marvel’s last trip to San Diego, they rolled out an ambitious plan for the Multiverse Saga; two years later, nine of the projects have seen their release dates shift significantly, including five projects that would have been released by now had the original plan been followed. While there are myriad reasons for the shifts, the fact remains the slate has changed several times over the last two years and now, it has again.

    As Marvel Studios took the stage in Hall H last night, its latest 2025 theatrical slate was the presentation’s focus. Recently the studio still had plans for four films to be released next year but work stoppages and difficulties locking down quality scripts have caused fans to call into question the pragmatism of that slate for some time and now it’s been made official: Marvel Studios will only release 3 films in 2025.

    With the studio still searching for yet another director to helm Mahershala Ali‘s Blade, the vampire hunter’s MCU debut has been delayed indefinitely. With Blade on the shelf, Marvel Studios’ 2025 theatrical slate will consist of Captain America: Brave New World, Thunderbolts* and The Fantastic Four: First Steps.

    February 14, 2025: Captain America: Brave New World

    Despite some significant issues behind the scenes, Captain America: Brave New World remains on track to hit its mid-February release date. After the events of The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, Anthony Mackie‘s Sam Wilson takes center stage as the all-new, all-different Captain America.

    The story follows Sam Wilson, who after meeting with newly elected U.S. President Thaddeus Ross, finds himself in the middle of an international incident. Sam must discover the reason behind a nefarious global plot before the true mastermind has the entire world seeing red.

    -Official Synopsis, Captain America: Brave New World
    SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – JULY 27: (L-R) Rob Delaney, Kevin Feige, President, Marvel Studios, Harrison Ford, Tim Blake Nelson, Danny Ramirez, Giancarlo Esposito and Anthony Mackie speak onstage during the Marvel Studios Panel in Hall H at SDCC in San Diego, California on July 27, 2024. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney)
    SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – JULY 27: (L-R) Danny Ramirez, Tim Blake Nelson, Harrison Ford, Anthony Mackie and Giancarlo Esposito attend the Marvel Studios Panel in Hall H at SDCC in San Diego, California on July 27, 2024. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney)
    SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – JULY 27: (L-R) Harrison Ford and Anthony Mackie attend the Marvel Studios Panel in Hall H at SDCC in San Diego, California on July 27, 2024. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney)

    Harrison Ford will make his MCU debut as Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross and Tim Blake Nelson returns to the role of Samuel Sterns, aka The Leader, after first appearing as the character in 2008’s The Incredible Hulk. Danny Ramirez returns as Joaquin Torres, who will take over as The Falcon and Giancarlo Esposito will make his MCU debut as Serpent Society King, Sidewinder.

    May 2, 2025: Thunderbolts*

    Directed by Jake Schrier, Thunderbolts* boasts an impressive ensemble cast and serves as a sequel to multiple projects. Though the film’s true lead is Florence Pugh‘s Yelena Belova, it also stars MCU first-timers Geraldine Viswanathan and Lewis Pullman along with returnees Hannah John-Kamen, Wyatt Russell, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Sebastian Stan, Olga Kurylenko and David Harbour, who showed up at SDCC in full Red Guardian garb.

    An irreverent team-up featuring depressed assassin Yelena Belova alongside the MCU’s least anticipated band of misfits.

    -Official Logline for Thunderbolts*
    SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – JULY 27: (L-R) Florence Pugh, Lewis Pullman, Geraldine Viswanathan, Hannah John-Kamen, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Jake Schreier, Sebastian Stan, David Harbour and Wyatt Russell attend the Marvel Studios Panel in Hall H at SDCC in San Diego, California on July 27, 2024. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney)
    SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – JULY 27: (L-R) Rob Delaney, Kevin Feige, President, Marvel Studios, Jake Schreier, Geraldine Viswanathan, Lewis Pullman, Hannah John-Kamen, Wyatt Russell, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Florence Pugh and Sebastian Stan speak onstage during the Marvel Studios Panel in Hall H at SDCC in San Diego, California on July 27, 2024. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney)
    SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – JULY 27: (L-R) Jake Schreier, Geraldine Viswanathan and Lewis Pullman speak onstage during the Marvel Studios Panel in Hall H at SDCC in San Diego, California on July 27, 2024. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney)
    SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – JULY 27: David Harbour speaks during the Marvel Studios Panel in Hall H at SDCC in San Diego, California on July 27, 2024. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney)

    Though details on Pullman’s character, Bob, were not revealed at SDCC, it’s widely accepted that he’ll be playing Robert Reynolds, aka The Sentry, one of the most powerful characters in the pages of Marvel Comics.

    July 25, 2025: The Fantastic Four: First Steps

    THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS. © 2024 20th Century Studios / © and ™ 2024 MARVEL.

    One of the most anticipated Marvel Studios projects in quite some time, The Fantastic Four: First Steps is still set to land in theaters next July despite the fact that production has not yet gotten underway.

    The Fantastic Four: First Steps sees Galactus and Silver Surfer target Earth for destruction

    -Official Description of The Fantastic Four: First Steps
    SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – JULY 27: (L-R) Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Joseph Quinn, Vanessa Kirby, Pedro Pascal and Matt Shakman speak onstage during the Marvel Studios Panel in Hall H at SDCC in San Diego, California on July 27, 2024. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney)
    SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – JULY 27: (L-R) Rob Delaney, Matt Shakman, Kevin Feige, President, Marvel Studios, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Joseph Quinn, Vanessa Kirby and Pedro Pascal speak onstage during the Marvel Studios Panel in Hall H at SDCC in San Diego, California on July 27, 2024. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney)
    SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – JULY 27: (L-R) Matt Shakman, Kevin Feige, President, Marvel Studios, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Joseph Quinn, Vanessa Kirby and Pedro Pascal speak onstage during the Marvel Studios Panel in Hall H at SDCC in San Diego, California on July 27, 2024. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney)
    SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – JULY 27: (L-R) Vanessa Kirby and Pedro Pascal speak onstage during the Marvel Studios Panel in Hall H at SDCC in San Diego, California on July 27, 2024. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney)

    Director Matt Shakman was joined on stage in San Diego by Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn and Ebon Moss-Bachrach, who will play the MCU’s version of The First Family. Shakman described the film as retro-futuristic and explained that it will look both into the past and future of the Fantastic Four though it will not be an origin story.